August 2004 -- Acme Township board swept from office in Republican primary by candidates opposed to the Village at Grand Traverse, a 2.4-million-square foot commercial and mixed-use development that was to include a Meijer store. Lame duck board approved permit for the development, restricting new board's ability to review site plan.
October 2004 -- Concerned Citizens of Acme Township filed suit against the township to stop the Village at Grand Traverse.
November 2004 -- New township board takes office.
January 2005 -- Meijer and Village at Grand Traverse developers intervened in lawsuit, counter-sued new township board. Meijer submitted permit application for Lautner Commons, a Meijer development adjacent to proposed Village at Grand Traverse.
June 2005 -- Meijer's attorney signed contract with public relations firm Seyferth Spaulding, Tennyson and secretly funds Acme Taxpayers for Responsible Government. The citizens group and public relations firm, directed by Meijer, work together to overturn temporary moratorium on big box stores.
July 2005 -- Circuit Court judge overturned prior board's approval of Village at Grand Traverse; developers and Meijer appealed.
August 2005 -- Voters rejected 907-900 temporary moratorium.
May 2006 -- Meijer's attorney signed contract with Seyferth Spaulding, Tennyson, which secretly began work to recall the Acme board. Meijer filed personal lawsuits against township board members. Township board approved special-use permit for Lautner Commons, with conditions.
June 2006 -- Meijer filed suit in Circuit Court, stating the Lautner Commons conditions were illegal and unconstitutional.
November 2006 -- Recall petition signatures submitted.
December 2006 -- Township board dropped restrictions on hours of operation and requirement of brick facade in permit. Meijer declines to drop suit.
January 2007 -- Circuit Court judge ruled township board's remaining conditions on Lautner Commons legal. Meijer appealed.
February 2007 -- Circuit Court judge threw out personal lawsuits against township officials. Township board captured 58 percent of vote to fend off recall.
April 2007 -- Acme Township Treasurer William Boltres sued Meijer for harassment.
August 2007 -- Township supervisor Bill Kurtz resigned, cited stress from Meijer lawsuits.
September 2007 -- Michigan Court of Appeals overturns Circuit Court, ruled lame duck board's approval of Village at Grand Traverse project legal, but restrictions on current board's site plan review illegal. Personal lawsuits against township board members reinstated.
October 2007 -- Michigan Court of Appeals found board's conditions for Lautner Commons legal.
November 2007 -- Mediation panel recommends Meijer pay Boltres $3 million to settle his suit.
December 2007 -- Meijer withdraws last of personal lawsuits against township officials. Boltres attorney Grant Parson releases subpoenaed documents indicating Meijer's financial involvement in recall election. Meijer settles Boltres lawsuit by paying him undisclosed sum.
January 2008 -- Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Alan Schneider asks Michigan State Police to investigate Meijer's role in recall election. Boltres files lawsuit against Village at Grand Traverse.
March 2008 -- Boltres suit against the Village removed to U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
April 2008 -- Circuit Court judge rules only the Michigan Secretary of State and Attorney General can investigate campaign finance violations, ending Schneider's probe.
May 2008 -- Schneider appeals Circuit Court ruling. Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land announced Meijer must pay $190,000 in fines and fees for illegal campaign activity in two township elections. Robert Carstens, township planning commissioner, files a motion to overturn settlement of original lawsuit.
June 2008 -- Circuit Court judge grants Carstens' motion.
August 2008 -- Carstens names Meijer, the Village at Grand Traverse, and their former attorneys, Timothy Stoepker and Dickinson Wright PLLC in lawsuit. Dickinson Wright claims 13th Circuit Court Judge Philip E. Rodgers is biased, files motion to have him removed. Meijer seeks emergency appeal of Rodgers' ruling to overturn settlement. Appeal denied. Boltres suit returned from bankruptcy court to 13th Circuit Court.
September 2008 -- Rodgers denies Dickinson Wright recusal motion. Dickinson Wright appeals to Circuit Court Judge James Batzer. Meijer seeks leave to appeal to Michigan Supreme Court.
October 2008 -- Meijer appeal to Supreme Court denied.
November 2008 -- Village files motion asking Rodgers to dismiss Boltres lawsuit.
January 2009 -- Batzer denies Dickinson Wright appeal.
February 2009 -- Rodgers denies motion to dismiss Boltres lawsuit. Discovery begins.
March 2009 -- Meijer lawsuit halted, tentative settlement filed under seal with court.
April 2009 -- Meijer, Village settle with township officials for $1.5 million.
May 2009 -- Village at Grand Traverse managing partner Steve Smith admits he paid legal bills for 2005 election campaign without reporting the expenses.
July 2009 -- Meijer and the Village announce a $75,000 payment to CCAT for its agreement not to sue.
September 2009 -- The Village and Meijer request a special use permit from Acme Township to construct a Meijer store in the Village project.
October 2009 -- Boltres settles lawsuit with the Village for an undisclosed amount, ending all civil court proceedings.
November 2009 -- Michigan Court of Appeals rules county prosecutor Schneider may pursue a criminal investigation of Meijer officials.
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
